What is this baptism of Christ? Why do we need to endure it? How did Jesus die?
The previous two articles we talked about the baptism of water and the baptism of the spirit, now we will look into the baptism of fire. For John the Baptist even declared that someone would come after him who would baptize in fire!
Matthew 3:11… I, for my part, baptize YOU with water because of YOUR repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize YOU people with holy spirit and with fire.
The baptism of water was for the repentance of sin, whereas the baptism of Holy Spirit was for the demonstration of power from God, it also was the revealer of truth.
But the baptism of fire was something far different, for Jesus revealed that it was something he had to do, referring to it as drinking from the cup. That drinking from the cup signified that he was ready to accept what God was offering. That he would have to go through a particular type of baptism, that of fire.
Fire was used as a way to cleanse thoroughly, it was used to harden steel, fire was also used to heat up precious metals to rid them of all impurities. All burnt offerings made to God under the Temple arrangement had to pass through fire.
So, the Lord Christ Jesus would have to give it all up as he passed through the fire, this meant his death because no flesh could survive passing through the fire.
Jesus knew what he had to do and when some disciples asked that they share in his privilege of kingship he asked them if they could drink the cup and be baptized in like manner?
Mark 10:38…But Jesus said to them: “YOU do not know what YOU are asking for. Are YOU able to drink the cup which I am drinking, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized?”
The baptism in which Christ went through was that of death, and he knew it because he spoke of it.
Luke 12:49-50… “I came to start a fire on the earth, and what more is there for me to wish if it has already been lighted? Indeed, I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how I am being distressed until it is finished!
The baptism by fire and that of being destroyed in this way greatly worried our Lord for he did not like that he was to be publicly labeled as a sinner against God. For all those who will follow after him as sons of God they too will have to pass through the fire in this type of baptism of death.
Galatians 3:26-27… YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Romans 6:3… do YOU not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
This drinking of the cup was something that you had to agree to. It labeled you as a potential son of God. So, what was the intent of this baptism of fire? Was it to distress those who had to pass through it? Notice what the apostle Paul reveals about passing through this fire.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15… each one’s work will become manifest, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of fire; and the fire itself will prove what sort of work each one’s is. If anyone’s work that he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward; if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved; yet, if so, [it will be] as through fire.
God never does anything without revealing his purpose first and so it was true with the baptism of fire. For something to become pure it has to pass through the fire to be refined.
Malachi 3:1-3… Look! I am sending my messenger, and he must clear up a way before me. And suddenly there will come to His temple the [true] Lord, whom YOU people are seeking, and the messenger of the covenant in whom YOU are delighting. Look! He will certainly come, Jehovah of armies has said. But who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears? For he will be like the fire of a refiner and like the lye of laundrymen. And he must sit as a refiner and cleanser of silver and must cleanse the sons of Levi; and he must clarify them like gold and like silver, and they will certainly become to Jehovah a people presenting a gift offering in righteousness.
God has asked a very good question ahead of time, who would be putting up with this day of his coming? Who will stand up when he appears? Who will let themselves be refined? Who will accept the message of the covenant and drink from the cup and become baptized with fire?
Come Lord Jesus, blessed are those who will accept God’s name!
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Updated 12/18/22